Preschool hosts celebration of life Saturday for founder Lamona Scott who died in November

LANCASTER — Lamona Scott's life was all about education.

In 1976 she founded the Owl’s Acres Montessori school at 1458 Tiki Lane. She was active with the school up until her November death at age 83 after a long illness.

"She was here every day," her daughter and school director Connie Siegle said. "Even when she got extremely sick. She would at least come for four hours in the morning. She was a go-getter, my mom was."

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday Siegle will host a celebration of Scott's life at the school.

"She touched so many lives in Lancaster that people are just so grateful," Siegle said. "I remember people saying they had just changed their lives. We have second and third generations (of former students) coming back here. We just want everybody to know that she might be gone but she's not forgotten."

Maria Montessori started the chain of schools in the 1950s in which the local school is a part of, Siegle said.

Siegle said the children at the preschool learn about respect for themselves and others, along with respect for the environment. She also they also learn about acceptance and diversity.

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"Maria Montessori said never do for a child what they can do for themselves," Siegle said.

As for her mother, Siegle said Scott was determined, spunky and goal orientated. She was also an animal lover.

"She was very compassionate," Siegle said. "She loved children and she only wanted to see them succeed. I can remember times when I'd go into the office and she would be in there mentoring a young mother whose husband had left her or who couldn't afford to bring their children anymore. She was a religious woman. She was very spiritual."

Siegle said her mother had to fight for everything she had.

"Even though we say we're civilized, it was still hard for a woman to prosper," she said. "It's like nobody ever took her seriously, especially years ago. So she was very determined. She was very outspoken."

Siegle said she hopes it's that determination and passion her mother had that people remember and how much she cared.

"I just want people to remember how important it is to go after your dreams," she said. "Because she did."

jbarron@gannett.com

740-304-9296

Twitter: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Preschool hosts celebration of life Saturday for its founder